Roof bow fitting for rack body



Feb. 20, 1962 Filed Jan. 27, 1961 J. J. BLACK 3,022,106

ROOF BOW FITTING FOR RACK BODY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Feb. 20, 1962 J. J. BLACK 3,022,106

ROOF BOW FITTING FOR RACK BODY Filed Jan. 27, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 20, 1962 J. J. BLACK 3,022,106

ROOF BOW FITTING FOR RACK BODY Filed Jan. 27, 1961 '5 Sheets-Sheet 3 U ml wmu.

kw i WW United States Patent 3,022,106 ROQF BOW FITTING FOR RACK BJDY James J. Black, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Trailrnohile Inn, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 85,366 5 Claims. (Cl. 2296-29} This invention relates to roadway vehicles equipped with removable side sections or racks, and more particularly relates to means for establishing a generally weatherproof seal between racks which adjoin one another along their vertical edges.

This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. 19,907, filed April 1960, and entitled Interlocking Post Construction for Rack Body.

For the sake of description, the invention is primarily disclosed hereinafter in relation to semi-trailers, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to use therewith and that it is also suited for use with railroad car rack bodies as well as with other freightcarrying vehicles.

In the aforesaid U.S. patent application Serial No. 19,907 there is disclosed a rack having side posts which broadly are of tongue and groove form. One side post of each rack is provided with spaced flanges extending endwisely therefrom to define a vertical channel or groove in the post, while the post at the other end, or the post of an adjacent rack, is provided with a vertical tongue which is receivable in the groove of the first, so that a multiplicity of such racks, when so engaged, help support each other and form a substantially continuous side or end wall of the vehicle. Between the side posts of each rack there is connected a flat panel, so that as an integral structure the rack comprises a sectional wall unit.

The side posts of that construction extend below the lower edge of the rack panel and are freely received together with the proximate posts of adjoining racks in common sockets at the edge of the vehicle bed. The sockets position the racks in alignment with one another, holding the lower ends of the tongue and groove posts of adjoining racks in engaged relationship against fore and aft movement such as would disengage them, while the flanges of the groove side post prevent relative transverse motion of the tongue side post. Through this interfitting engagement a vertical tongue and groove type joint is provided between adjoining racks which is substantially tight against weather and dust.

Experiene has shown that under certain conditions these tongue and groove joints will tend to open or gap at their upper ends which, of course, exposes the cargo in the vehicle body. This type of separation may occur, for example, when a heavily laden semi-trailer stands uncoupled on its landing gear, or during transit when the vehicle passes over a bumpy road surface. The condition arises because the bed of the vehicle cannot be made perfectly rigid and is inevitably subject to some deflection or warping, particularly when it is heavily loaded. One of the advantages of the tongue and groove joint between the racks, in fact, is that it does admit of some relative longitudinal motion between the racks without an actual gap opening between them, by reason of the overlap between the groove flanges and the tongue. However, when the vehicle bed is deflected by stress so that his convexed, the racks may angulate with respect to one another in groups to an extent greater than the overlap between the tongue and groove at the tops of the racks between the angulated groups, so that one or more wedge-shaped gaps appear between them at intervals along a side wall constituted by the assembly. The racks remain connected and properly overlapped at their lower ends, and the gaps may disappear with reverse deflection, but nonetheless the possibility of such gaps occurring presents some danger of weather damage to the load so long as or during the intervals they exist. The problem becomes acute in respect to vehicles of thirty or forty foot length as are now becoming commonplace.

ln practice it has not been found desirable simply to connect the racks tightly and positively along their entire vertical extent and thereby prevent such separation, nor, on account of extra weight, so simply increase the width of the flanges or tongues. The bed of the vehicle cannot itself be made perfectly rigid, and some deflection from a plane surface is inevitable under normal conditions of use. Thus, the racks, extending substantially perpendicularly upwardly fromthe bed, follow or adjust to these deflections; if they are positively connected they cannot adjust otherwise than by warping. Moreover, it is characteristic of such structures that when there is a tendency for the racks to separate, a single large gap between tworacks will develop in preference to smaller gaps of more or less even size between several racks. Most of the racks will usually remain tightly interfitted, but a few large gaps may develop.

The present invention is directed to simple fittings insuring substantial uniformity of angulation of the racks, such that each rack assumes its part of the whole angular displacement which is incidental to bowing of the vehicle bed. In the preferred embodiment, these fittings are in the form of roof bow fittings for maintaining the panels of my aforesaid U.S. application Serial No. 19,907 engaged along their entire vertical extent under conditions of bed deflection so that the rack body will at all times remain substantially weatherproof and tight. By means of these fittings, limited relative movement is permitted in the longitudinal direction, so that the racks can accommodate themselves in relative attitude to frame deflections, but the racks are prevented from separating to an extent beyond the range of tongue and groove overlap such that a gap would be presented.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention a roof bow is provided at each end with a fitting which includes a body adapted to straddle the two side posts between adjoining racks and two spaced fingers extending downwardly from the body. These fingers are adapted to be received in the respective openings at the upper ends of the side posts. The spacing between the fingers, and the closeness of fit in their respective openings, is such that the fingers permit relative longitudinal motion between the racks only over the range in which the posts remain interfitted with each other and such that the fingers positively prevent relative longitudinal motion of a degree such that gapping would occur.

The invention can best be further described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of adjoining upper corner portions of two racks having side posts engaging Y for strength and lightness.

9 o in tongue and groove relationship, showing the end portion of a roof bow member having a fitting in accordance with the invention, positioned to be seated in the upper ends of the side posts;

FIGURE 2. is a sectional view taken along the top edge of the racks showing the manner in which the downwardly projecting fingers of the fitting are'engaged in' the openings presented by the side posts;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of a preferred fitting in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side'elevation of a fitting similar to that shown in FIGURE 1, showing the manner in which the fitting is connected to the roof bow member;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of the fitting of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view showing in exaggerated fashion the type of rack deflection that usually tends to occur in a loaded semi-trailer which is coupled to a tractor, in which a large angular deflection deverops between groups of racks while the racks of each group remain tightly engaged;

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the type of rack deflection that tends to occur in a loaded uncoupled semi-trailer;

' FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the fittings of the invention limit angular deflection betweeueach pair of adjoining rack of a loaded coupled semi-trailer by distributing the total deflection over several racks;

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the fittings limit angular deflection between racks of a loaded, uncoupled trailer; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view through the side edge portion of a trailer bed and the lower end of a rack illustrating a gasket for sealing the rack to the bed which is preferred for use in conjunction with the roof bow fitting.

In FIGURE 1 there are shown the upper corner portions of two adjacent racks 10 and 11 equipped with side posts of the type described in my copending application Serial No. 19,907. The left rack 10 includes a grooved side post 12, a top frame member 13, a skin sheet or panel 14 and a gusset 15 connected to side post 12and frame member 13 by rivets 16. Theright rack 11 includes a tongue side post 18, a top frame member 19, a skin sheet and a gusset 21 connected by rivets 22.

Although only the adjoining upper corner sections of left rack 10 and the right rack 11 are shown, it will be appreciated that on its opposite vertical edges each rack 10 and 11 is provided with both a tongue post and a groove post;

' Posts 12 and 18 are preferably extruded in aluminum side of box-like portion 24 comprises a web26 from which spaced flanges 2727 extend outwardly in the,

general plane of the rack, defining a groove 28 between them. Rounded ribs 2929 are formed on the .inner 7 side of the outer ends of the flanges 2727. The rivets 16 by which the. gusset 15 and skin sheet 14 and connected to the post 12 may extend into the interior 7 of box-like section 24 as shown in the figure.

respectively are received, in a common socket, not shown,

which may be similar to that described in my previously mentioned copending application. 7

Under normal conditions, when the bed of the vehicle 7 The groove post 12 includes, box-like portion 24 having an interior opening 25.- One flected and planar, the tongue 31 of post 18 extends partway into the groove 28 which is defined between the flanges 2727 of post 12, its front edge 34 being spaced some distance from, web 25 of groove post 12, as is best shown in FIGURE 2. It will be seen that there is a certain range of relative longitudinal movement between racks 10 and 11 over which tongue 31 remains engaged in. groove 28 so that gapping between the racks does not occur. Thus, the racks may move toward each other until the tongue post 18 positively abuts the groove post 12, and they can move apart while still maintaining the interfit between them to that point in which the forward edge 34 of post 18 is adjacent the outer'end's of flanges 27--27. Throughout this range of relative movement the intcrfit between racks 10 and 11 presents a joint which is substantially Weatherproof and tight. Because the 7 lower ends of the two posts are received in'a common socket, gapping cannot under any conditions occur along the lower portions or the joint between the racks When, however, the racks become angulated relative to each other about an apex at the socket, their upper ends may become spaced to such an extent that tongue'31 is not engaged in groove 28, with the result that a gap develops between the upper ends of the posts, exposing the contents of the vehicle to weather.

The roof bow fitting 37 I have invented is shown at the top of FIGURE '1, mounted atone end ofan arched roof bow member 38. The fitting 37 comprises a body portion 39 having a lower surface 40 straddling the upper ends of the two posts 12 and 18. Two spaced, generally parallel fingers or pins 41 and 42 extend downwardly from body 39. Pin 41 may be of rectangular cross section, tapering toward its lower end and having a width (i.e., the dimension from left to right in FIGURE 2) substantially equal to the width of the-hollow interior 25 of box section 24. The thickness of pin 41 (i.e., the vertical dimension in FIGURE 2) is not critical, and may be less than the corresponding dimension of the interior 25 of post 12. Theother pin 42 is substantially longer than pin 41 so that it can be engaged in the interior 3.3 of tongue post 18 before pin 41 is engaged in post 12.

This pin 42 is substantially T-shaped at its upper portion 43 and tapers downwardly to a rounded tip 44. As 1 7 shown in FIGURE 2, the width of pin 42 is preferably substantially less than'the Width of the opening 33 in post 18. The'thickness. of the T-portion 43 of finger 42 is preferably slightly less than the width of the opening 33 in tongue post 18. V V

The spacing of fingers 41 and 42, and their longitudinal dimensions with respect to the internal longitudinal dimensions of the posts 12 and 18, is such that, when they are engaged with the posts in the manner shown in FIG- URE 2, the posts may move relative to each other in longitudinal direction only through a limited range over which they remain engaged. Thus, the fingers 41 and 42. do not appreciably limit movement of the racks toward each other, but they positively prevent relative movement of the racks away from each other of such magnitude that the tongue and groove would disengage and present a gap between them. 7

The fitting 37 is provided with a pair of outwardly extending, spaced ribs 4545 between which a crossbrace 46 extends to rigidity and strengthen them. A pin 47 pivotally connects the end of roof bow member 38 between the ribs 45-45, so that the angulation of the roof bow is connected between the racks. Movement of the racks is thus limited in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, and as a result a generally stronger, rigid, weatherproof cargo body is provided.

As previously explained, when the bed of the vehicle is subjected to forces such that it is convexed, either transiently or longer, the racks or at least some of them tend to become relatively angulated to one another, since they extend upwardly more or less perpendicularly from the bed. For some reason, it usually happens that this angulation appears between some but not all of the racks, the other racks remaining generally parallel to one another in groups. FIGURE 6 illustrates in exaggerated fashion the type of angulation that tends to develop in a loaded semi-trailer when coupled to a tractor, and FIG- URE 7 illustrates the type of gapping that tends to develop in an uncoupled loaded trailer. In any event, wide gapping appears between certain racks, while the tongue and groove joints between the others remain tight.

By preventing more than a limited degree of angulation or longitudinal movement between racks, the fitting of this invention prevents gapping due to angulation of the types shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. When inserted into the posts, the fittings limit the actual angulation between two racks where wide gapping tends to appear to an amount such that the tongue and groove remain engaged,

' and instead divides or allocates the total angulation over several racks, so that all are slightly angulated, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, but not to an extent such that an actual gap develops between any two panels. (The apparent gaps in FIGURES 8 and 9 indicate the relative positions of the outermost ends 34 of the tongue posts with respect to the webs 26 of the groove posts, and it is to be understood that in each instance the flanges 27-27, not shown, overlap the tongues 31 so that no true gap is present.)

In conjunction with these fittings and racks it is desirable to employ a gasket along the lower horizontal edges of the racks to further seal the cargo body. As an incident to the angular adjustments above described, the racks do move slightly with respect to the bed, and there is a possibility of splash and dust entering the body through the cracks which are thereby presented at the lower edge of the racks. The gasket shown in FIGURE provides a seal along the bed whereby dust or water cannot enter the body in this upward direction. FIG- URE 10 shows a sectional view of a longitudinal bed frame member 55 formed with a groove or notch 56 along its upper edge. The lower frame member 57 of the rack, attached to skin sheet 58, is fitted with a hollow, flexible gasket 59 of rectangular section in a groove 60 which forms a substantially tight seal in the notch 56 of bed frame member 55. This gasket provides a seal which is efiective even though there may occur some movement between the rack and bed, and for that reason is a preferred but not a necessary adjunct to the roof bow fitting of the invention.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it will be appreciated that it is susceptible of various modifications and alterations falling within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a freight vehicle equipped with racks having side posts of the type which interfit in tongue and groove relationship and which have openings at least at the upper portions thereof, a roof bow fitting for preventing gapping between side posts of adjoining racks, said fitting comprising, a body connectable to a roof bow, said body being adapted to straddle the two side posts between adjoining racks, said body having two spaced downwardly extending pins, one of said pins being adapted to be received in the opening of one side post and the other of said pins being adapted to be received in the opening of the other side post, the spacing between said pins and the fit of said pins in their respective openings being such that 6 said pins permit relative longitudinal motion between said racks only over the range in which said posts are interfitted with each other and such that said pins positively prevent relative longitudinal motion of a degree such that gapping would occur between said posts, whereby angular deviation of two adjoining racks tending to cause gapping therebetween is partly transferred to atleast one other rack and is uniformly confined to that range over which loss of weather tightness does not occur.

2. In a freight vehicle equipped with racks having hollow side posts of the tongue and groove type, a roof bow fitting for preventing gapping between the side posts of adjoining racks, said fitting comprising, a' body connectable to a roof bow, said body being adapted to straddle the two side posts between adjoining racks, two spaced, downwardly tapering pins of unequal length depending from said body, one of said pins being adapted to be snugly received in longitudinal direction in the hollow interior of the groove side post and the other of said pins being adapted to be loosely received in longitudinal direction in the hollow interior or" the tongue side post, the spacing between said pins being such that said pins permit relative longitudinal motion between said racks only over the range in which said posts are interfitted with each other and such that said pins positively prevent relative longitudinal motion of a degree such that gapping would occur between said posts.

3. In a freight vehicle equipped with racks having hollow side posts of the type which interfit in tongue and groove relationship, means for preventing gapping between the side p-osts of adjoining racks, said means coir.- prising, a body straddling the two side posts between adjoining racks, said body having two spaced, downwardly extending pins of unequal length, one of said pins being adapted to be snugly received in longitudinal direction in the hollow interior of one side post and the other of said pins being adapted to be loosely received in longitudinal direction in the hollow interior of the other side post, the spacing between said pins being such that said pins permit relative longitudinal motion between said racks only over the range in which said posts remain interfitted with each other and such that said pins positively prevent relative longitudinal motion of a degree such that gapping would occur between said posts, whereby angular deviation of two adjoining racks tending to cause gapping therebetween is partly transferred to at least one other rack and is uniformly confined to that range over which gapping does not occur.

4. A roof bow for a freight vehicle equipped with racks having hollow side posts of the type which interfit in tongue and groove relationship, said roof bow being connectable between racks on opposite sides of said vehicle and adapted to prevent gapping between side posts of adjoining racks on the same side of said vehicle, said roof bow comprising, an elongated member having means at each end adapted to straddle the two side posts between adjoining racks, said means having two spaced, downwardly extending pins, one of said pins being adapted to be received in the hollow interior of one of said adjoining side posts and the other of said pins being adapted to be received in the hollow interior of the other of said adjoining side posts, the spacing between said pins and the fit of said pins in their respective side posts being such that said pins permit relative longitudinal motion between adjoining racks only over the range in which said posts are interfitted with each other and such that said pins positively prevent relative longitudinal motion of a degree such that gapping would occur between said posts;

5. In a freight vehicle equipped with racks having hollow side posts of the tongue and groove type, a roof bow fitting for preventing gapping between the side posts of adjoining racks, said fitting comprising, a body, said body being adapted to straddle the two side posts between adjoining racks, two spaced, downwardly tapering pins of unequal length depending from said body, one of said pins being adapted to be received in the hollow interior of the groove side post and the other of said pinsbeing adapted to be received in the hollow interior of the tongue side post, the spacing between said pins being such that said pins permit relative longitudinal motion between said racks only over the range in which said posts are interfitted with each other and such that said pins positively prevent relative longitudinal motion of a degree such that gapping would occur between said posts, spaced ribs projecting 8 outwardly from said body, and swivel permitting means extending transversely between said ribs for connecting said fitting to the end portion of a roof bow.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

